Integrating the camera driver into MicroPython.

Programming the esp32-cam processor

The esp32-cam does not come with a serial USB interface as many other ESP32 processor boards do. This makes programming the device quite a bit more tricky.

Having a look at the pin-out we see that GPIO 1 and 3 are connected to UoTXD and U0RXD respectively.

These will be the programming pins connected to USB to serial converter.

Here are the connections:

ESP32-cam
Power 5V left side of esp32-cam	external power supply 5V
GND left side of esp32-cam	external power supply GND
GND top right of esp32-cam	USB to serial GND
U0TXD	USB to serial RX
U0RXD	USB to serial TX
GPIO 0	connect to GND when flashing
GND

In order to understand how to program the device the circuit diagram will be very helpful.

https://iotworkshop.africa/pub/AFNOG/DriverIntegrationIntoNopMicroPython/ESP32_CAM_V1.6.pdf

To flash a new program into the esp32 flash we must first connect GPIO 0 to ground, which can be done with a simple jumper. Then we can erase the flash with:

esptool erase_flash

I give the command with power on the esp32-cam off and switch power on as soon as esptool tries to connect to the esp32

Finally we can flash the program:

esptool write_flash --flash_size=detect --flash_mode dio 0x1000 binaryToBeFlashed

Again I give the command with power to the esp32 off and switch power on as soon as esptool tries to connect to the esp32.

This procedure will allow to flash our custom MicropPython with the camera driver installed.

-- %USERSIG{UliRaich - 2020-01-25}%

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